Air India on Tuesday announced the extension of the suspension of flights to several destinations in the Middle East, citing the ongoing regional situation, according to a statement released by the airline on X.
In a statement, Air India said it has extended the suspension of most flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 2359 hours IST on March 4, 2026.
The airline said it is closely monitoring and evaluating developments in the region.
Limited traffic continues
Air India said a limited number of flights are being operated, with the safety and well-being of passengers and crew being the highest priority.
Services in North America, UK and Europe continue
According to the airline’s mail, flights to North America, the United Kingdom and Europe are operating as scheduled.
Air India said these services are being routed through alternative airspace corridors in the Middle East, with safety remaining its top priority.
Passenger support and refund options
Air India expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the affected passengers and said it remains committed to offering alternative travel arrangements, full refunds or free rescheduling.
Passengers were advised to check the updated flight status on the airline’s official website and contact its 24/7 customer support hotline for assistance.
Air India Express operates flights to Muscat and extends Gulf suspension
Air India Express on Tuesday (March 3) said it will resume its scheduled flights to and from Muscat on March 4, while suspending services to several destinations in the Persian Gulf due to ongoing regional disruptions, according to a statement quoted by ANI.
Flights to Muscat continue
The airline has confirmed that it will operate regular flights to and from Muscat along with additional flights to Delhi, Kochi and Mumbai.
In a statement quoted by the reporter, the airline said it will operate regular flights from cities including Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Tiruchirappalli along with additional flights to select destinations.
Operations to Persian Gulf countries suspended
Air India Express has said that all scheduled flights to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will remain suspended until March 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.
The airline expressed regret for the disruption and thanked passengers for their patience and cooperation.
Advice and support for passengers
According to the airline’s statement, passengers are advised to check the flight status updates on the official website and ensure their contact details are updated for notifications.
The airline also advised passengers to use its booking management portal to waive change and cancellation fees and highlighted its 24/7 AI digital assistant Tia.
Mangaluru to Muscat flight details
According to a source quoted by ANI, Air India Express will operate Mangaluru-Muscat flights as per schedule:
IX818: Muscat to Mangaluru, arriving at 5.30pm (5.30pm).
IX817: Mangaluru to Muscat, departs at 9.20am (9.20am).
The passenger load on the route includes:
Mangaluru (IXE) to Muscat (MCT): 143 passengers and 4 crew members.
Muscat to Mangaluru: 162 passengers and 7 crew.
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